Old West & Native American Auction
Lot 1218:
Description
This is an exceptional pairing of early Skookum “Bully Good” Indian dolls, a highly recognizable and collectible figure in Americana and souvenir doll history, manufactured in the U.S.A. The larger doll appears to be a female figure, while the smaller, “papoose” style doll could represent a child or baby, often bundled in a blanket. Skookum dolls were created by Mary McAboy in Missoula, Montana, beginning around 1913, and were produced for decades. These examples feature the classic design of painted composition faces, wrapped in wool or felt blankets with patterned motifs suggestive of Native American textiles, and are finished with leather or cloth leggings and moccasins. The larger doll has a visible original paper “SKOOKUM (BULLY GOOD) INDIAN U.S.A. PATENTED” sticker on the foot. The dolls show significant vintage wear consistent with age, including surface dirt, fading and fraying to the blankets, and minor scuffing to the composition faces. The smaller doll has some exposed red fabric visible under the blanket, and the larger doll’s blanket appears to be a three-color geometric pattern. H 10″, W 3.5″ (Larger doll) H 7.5″, W 2.5″ (Smaller doll) From the Native American display in Donley’s Wild West Town.
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